Practices

Education and Clerkships

J.D., Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, 1991, cum laude; Order of the Coif; Leading Articles Editor, Journal of Air Law and Commerce

M.B.A., University of Texas at Arlington, 1983

B.S., University of Texas at Arlington, 1979, highest honors

Admissions

Texas

Court Admissions

United States Supreme Court

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Profile

As an experienced and dedicated appellate lawyer, Karen Precella has secured favorable rulings in all phases of trial and appellate proceedings—from pre-trial summary judgment to post-verdict motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict to appeals at the intermediate and supreme court levels. Karen, co-chair of Haynes and Boone’s Appellate Practice Group, has briefed and argued numerous cases in the Fifth Circuit and Texas appellate courts. She understands that an appellate practice involves not only an in-depth knowledge and respect of the law but also working together with the trial team to get the best results for the client.

Karen speaks and writes frequently on appellate issues and has earned a state-wide reputation on jury charge and mandamus procedures through her legal writing and bar service. She served a three-year term as Chair of the State Bar Pattern Jury Charge Committee for the Business Volume, served on the Pattern Jury Charge Oversight Committee, and now serves on the Pattern Jury Charge Committee for the Oil and Gas Volume. Karen has taught jury charge procedures at the Texas College of Judicial Studies and Annual Judicial Conference on numerous occasions. She is a contributing author for two American Bar Association books—A Practitioner's Guide to Appellate Advocacy (Anne Marie Lofaso ed., 2010), and The Class Action Fairness Act: Law and Strategy (2013), and taught legal writing for several years at the Texas A&M School of Law.

Karen is also committed to bar and community service work in a wide variety of organizations. She is currently on the board of editors for the Texas Bar Journal. She has also served as co-chair of the Appellate Practice Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation, council member of the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section, and chair of the Tarrant County Appellate and Business Litigation Sections. She is active in the Federal Bar Association as well. Karen currently serves on the Board of the Fort Worth Public Library Foundation and continues to be active with the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce Governmental Affairs Committee and Central Area Council after the end of her Board term. Karen is also the administrative partner of the Fort Worth office of Haynes and Boone.

Chambers

Haynes and Boone, LLP has been featured in the annual Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business 2017 directory. The widely-respected legal publication recognized 50 individual lawyers across 20 practice areas.

Honors

Texas Super Lawyers recognized 57 Haynes and Boone lawyers in the 2017 edition of its annual award listing. The awards are based on peer recognition and professional achievements. Of those nominated, only five percent of the total lawyers in the state are selected for inclusion.

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